It was a great honor to be asked by the Smithsonian Institution to create the museum’s only live display as part of a multi-million dollar renovation to the Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History. The aquarium features a curved glass viewing panel to help gathered patrons view all areas of the complicated captive environment. Behind the aquarium sits a well-appointed life support lab which provides space for all of the complex filtration and lighting systems and allows for service of the aquarium without disrupting the museum patrons’ experience. The aquarium features lush coral growth that all originated from aquacultured specimens to eliminate any negative effects on wild coral populations. As a result of Reef Aquaria Design’s and the Smithsonian’s combined dedication to the project, the aquarium exhibit is second only to the Hope Diamond in terms of popularity among museum visitors.